22nd International Conference of ADI
Dementia - a Challenge for the 21st Century. 100 Years of Alzheimer's Disease
The city of Berlin and Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft (the Alzheimer association in Germany) played host to ADI's 2006 International Conference. From all over the world delegates arrived to be part of a fantastic multi-disciplinary event covering all aspects of dementia care and treatment. Whether it was large plenary sessions or intimate workshop discussions, medical professionals, Alzheimer association representatives, people with dementia and carers were all catered for in the varied conference programme.
The German capital was a very appropriate place to commemorate a century of Alzheimer's disease, where 100 years earlier the German doctor Alois Alzheimer had put his name to the disease that now affects over 24 million people worldwide. In a city with such a turbulent past, there emerges a great sense of regeneration and responsibility for a better future. The history of dementia has followed a similar path and it was therefore very powerful to hear of latest developments in medicine, treatment and care in so historically apt an environment.
Over the three days the Berliner Congress Centre was home to debates on early diagnosis, quality of life, drug treatments and research findings whilst Alzheimer associations had the chance to present their work and network in the showcase area. Fifteen people with dementia from ten different countries attended the people with dementia forum, a chance to get together, make introductions and discuss topics of interest. The 7th Stroud interactive workshop was an opportunity for carers and people with dementia to share their experience and views on the pros and cons of early diagnosis.
The conference also provided ADI members in similar areas of the world the opportunity to get together and hear about latest developments in the region. Regional meetings were held between members in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions, ADI's medical and scientific panel came together for an impromptu meeting as did members of 10/66, ADI's research group currently conducting population based research in various centres throughout the developing world.
The international audience and setting of the conference was the perfect opportunity to unveil ADI's Centenary competition winners. Winners and runners-up of the International Photography Competition were exhibited through the duration of the conference and winners were formally announced and presented with prizes at the elegant Gala dinner on the Friday night at the Parochialkirche. The Journalist of the Year Award was presented to the Iran Alzheimer Association for Mina Sabbaghi's article 'Give me your hand.' For more details and to read the article, click here.
Once again the ADI conference was a powerful testament to the growing power of the global dementia movement. 1,550 people from 70 different countries gathered to learn from each other and make connections.
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